Hi Everyone,
I've mentioned in posts here and there that my son, Mickey, is on his way to crossing over to Boy Scouts next year. The kid loves backpacking, is crazy for camping, and looking forward to the bigger and better adventures to come. Now of course I'm helping him get set up with lightweight gear, and he's very appreciative of that, but he's also got an eye on some upgrades. For example, he has a ridgerest, but would like something more comfortable, like an air mattress. I'm going to hook him up with a warmer sleeping bag, but if he wants something down, that's a bit more. Like many of us got as kids, "If you want that, you're going to have to earn it yourself!"

So, he's come up with "Quick Mick Cozies" - this is his venture to earn money for some of the upgraded gear that he has his eye on, so that he can travel a little lighter and a little more comfortably. So without further ado, the following is from my son, Mickey, age 9, Webelos 1:

Quick Mick Cozies!
Would you like a nice cozy for keeping your dehydrated meals hot while they cook? Of course you would! And what better cozy than a Quick Mick Cozy!? Quick Mick Cozies are great because they can fit in your pack very easily, they're very light and only 1.2oz, make your meal easier to handle, and will hold a quart sized ziploc bag meal very nicely!

Quick Mick Cozies will only cost $8 per cozy, with free shipping! PM or email (kier.selinsky [at] gmail) my dad to order yours today!

Edited by Kieran on 03/20/2012 09:15:57 MDT.

Those look really good. Are they sized for quart bags or what? I'm new to cozies.

Thanks Ken - he's been working hard on them! They are sized to handle a full quart freezer bag and have a little fudge room. If you had a custom size you wanted, he could accommodate that as well.

Cheers!
Kier

Gotta support our future cottage companies;-) But seriously, forget boy scout popcorn or girl scout cookies this is the kind of things they should be making/selling!

Paypal address?and Ill send the money with my info.

Chase

these look really amazing... and a wonderful thing to support! i'll take two of these !!

please email me to gather correct shipping postage and paypal info

robertpdolan @ gmail.com

Thanks for the interest, guys! I've messaged both of you. Anyone who wants to contact me directly instead of via PM, can email me at kier.selinsky [at] gmail.

Because some have asked via PM for more info, he's an industrious kid. He arrived at the $8 price point after figuring out all his costs and deciding how much profit was fair (he gets about $4 per sale after materials and shipping) for the amount of work that goes into each one (probably about 20 minutes including time to address shipments and deal with the post office). He is paying for his own materials, although I supplied him the first batch on credit - given the amount of work he's putting in, that debt will likely be forgiven ;-).

It's a fun exercise for him if nothing else. He's always wanted to have his own business. Thanks for the support!

FYI - Mickey's cozies are getting some good attention. All orders submitted or mentioned already should ship by Saturday or Monday. At this point, additional ones should ship Tuesday.

Thanks for the support and positive vibes!

Edited by Kieran on 03/20/2012 12:27:36 MDT.

Sent you an email regarding the cozies.

Thanks!

"Soitenly!"

Email sent.

Yea! Mickey ;-)

Party On,

Newton

i'll take 2, please PM me the payment info. thanks!

Thanks everyone for the awesome support and orders! He's cranking out the cozies! Time to hit the store for more materials!

Edited by Kieran on 03/20/2012 20:57:11 MDT.

Paypal payment sent for one.

Thanks!

Okay, I have a couple large rolls of Reflectix in the garage and lots of material to build on. Cost would be nothing.

Don't know if I even need a cozie.

But, I have to get one now! We need more young people like your son.

PM sent to you for payment information.

I don't need a cozy, but I gotta donate to the cause. I'm sending a PM so I can get your Paypal info. I want to send him a little money for his gear.

Thanks again for the awesome support! You guys rock! Just a quick update - at this point, new orders will ship on Wednesday by end of day.

Thanks again! Mickey's been having a lot of fun with this and is swelling with pride at making his way to gearing himself up!

PM Sent...

You guys rock! So as an update, Mickey's about 2/3 of the way to having earned the air mattress he wants. I came home from a business trip tonight and the house is covered in cozies! He's going to ship them starting tomorrow morning, and I expect everything will get shipped by Wednesday-ish at the latest.

Also, thought you guys might appreciate this. Through a local boy scout connection, we got a great deal on a very very gently used Osprey Talon 44, it's just a tad baggy on him, but at this rate he'll be stretching it by next week :) The hiking poles you see strapped on there are what he bought with his allowance savings a few weeks ago.

Hi Everyone -
Mickey has worked his butt off the last couple days to ship everything on or ahead of schedule! Some of you were notified yesterday of your shipment, the rest will go in tomorrow's mail. The little dude is committed to coming through on the promise!

Thanks for your support! He's a proud little guy, and having fun!

Truly great! What an industrious little entrepreneur!

I'll take one. PM sent!

"The little dude is committed to coming through on the promise"!

The apple doesn't usually fall to far from the tree! I smell the sweet aroma of a healthy family atmosphere and good parenting. ;-)

Congrats to Mickey and you & yours.

BTW this is what it is replacing.



I do believe that I am upgrading my cook kit. LOL

Party On,

Newton

Thanks for the continued support, guys! He's really appreciating it! And he's nearly to his goal now for the sleeping pad.

Hi Mickey,

I just got the package and you did a great job on the cozy! I can't wait to put this to good use on my upcoming trips.

Oh and thanks for the nice personalized note...loved the signature :)

I sent a PM for a cozy. Contact me.

Really want one of those cozies...

Angus - glad you got it and are pleased with the product! Mickey will be proud to hear it!

Mark - I responded with a PM shortly after getting yours, and just sent another. If you don't get the PM's, please send me an email directly at kier.selinsky [at] gmail.com

I exited the rear of my home to go out and mow the lawn. I did the back yard and sides first and then I went to mow the front yard. I spied this large manila envelope in my mailbox and I walked over to check it out. It was my order of 2 of Mickey's cozies!

I couldn't wait to get finished with the yard and get that package open.

What I found inside was 2 well done handmade cozies from the newest cottage gear entrepreneur on the block.

Well done Mickey!

I appreciate the thank you note inside my cozy. You are very welcome. I will get quite a lot of use out of these beautiful cozies of yours.

I am glad that I could help in some small way in your effort to "get lots of cool camping gear". ;-)

Party On,

Newton

Awesome! He's glad to hear the cozies are received and well regarded! It's great that he's working hard, and even better that his work is well received. He says "that's great to hear! I'm glad they like their cozies!"

All paid orders have already left or are on the shelf for the mailman in the morning. You guys rock! FYI he still has plenty of materials to make more if anyone is in need.

Just got my cozy today. It's very well made. I can't wait to try it out!

Awesome! He's glad to hear it, Paul!

Mickey, I require 2 of your very specialized Cozies for my winter camping here in the Desolation Wilderness ASAP. I will PM to get your PayPal ID.

From the (now snowy) wilderness-

-Dave

PS: My son is a Star Scout, I will alert him to your progress..... You may get to Eagle before him!

Thanks Dave - Mickey hopes you guys like your cozies!

Everyone - all ordered cozies shipped this afternoon, so watch your mailboxes!

Anyone still interested - Mickey still has plenty in stock!

Please check my last PM. :)

Thanks Derek! Yours will mail tomorrow!

Got mine today. Mickey did a really nice job putting it together. Used Reflictix tape and matched the sides seams nicely. It really looks professional.

Kier,

Tell Mickey, thanks. The note was a nice touch too!

Thanks Nick! That's a great start to Mickey's day!

Just sent PayPal payment for 2 cozies.

Got it Rick! They'll ship within 24 hours. Thanks for your support!

Mick

Thanks for the Cozy and the note. Excellent Customer Service. Vio Con Dios mi Amigo..

Do I see a Future Cottage Company????

Mark - Mickey extends a big "Thank you!"

I'd be lying if I said the thought hasn't crossed his mind. He's thinking about other products his little 9 year old hands could work out reasonably well

Some good branding, find a nice wholesaler for some small easy to work with and to ship items, slap a pic of Mick on it and you have the All American start up cottage industry..

Leak the try to the news and some blogs and you'll have an overnight success story ready to go Corporate!!


;)

Good Luck

Ha! Thanks Mark - will take it under advisement :)

Mikey!! Thanks again my friend for the work you put into the cozy, Its awesome! I cant wait to use it out on the trail, me and my tummy thank you!! Stay safe out there. Tim

Mine just came today, and they are excellent! Great job, Mickey! Thanks muchly!

Thanks Tim and Stephen! Mickey loves hearing that his cozies are well received! I think he might be getting more out of seeing the positive impact he makes for others than what he's doing for his gear needs. He beams with pride knowing that he did the job well.

Hey I also wanted to give a quick shout of gratitude for all the orders he's received. Mickey's sold 44 cozies to 30 happy customers and has raised enough to get his first goal, a lightweight inflatable mattress. He's going to work with me on Wednesday and we're headed to the flagship store to test mattresses and pick one out. He's now saving up for a new sleeping bag that will get him into the teens on chillier trips (his current one bottoms out at about 35).

He's had such an awesome time learning to work for his own way, blaze his own trail, and the pride that comes with it. He'll continue making more cozies for anyone who wants them, but is also working on other product ideas to help raise the rest of the money to finish out his gear needs.

Thanks again everyone! You guys rock!

Got mine last week. Awesome! Tell him he did a great job!

Thanks Brent! I will pass on the word. He loves hearing from his fans :)

Great job young man! Wish I would have had it last weekend in Big Bend, maybe some of my veggies wouldn't have been crunchy!

Thanks Joe! May all your future adventures include properly rehydrated meals :)

got mine last week. found an alternate use: add a couple of ice cubes in a plastic bag and it will keep a fish/steak cold for enough time to make it into camp and get a fire started...

thanks much. happy hiking.

Edited by rbeard on 04/02/2012 20:21:19 MDT.

Ha! That's awesome - hadn't even thought of that!

I got my Coozie today. I hate to brag, but I got one of the limited addition models with the creators autograph on it. Someday it might be worth millions!!!
Thanks Mickey!
Ben

Nice - his eyes did sparkle a bit when he heard someone wanted his autograph. :-)

Hi Everyone,
Mickey wanted to follow up with you to say a big "Thanks!" for all the support and orders. We went to REI and he spent about an hour of very intense trial and error and fake-snoring-filled test runs before settling on the new Big Agnes Q-Core. The thing is super cozy and warm, with an R-value of 5, it should serve him well in all seasons. A little on the heavy side, but a comfy night's sleep is worth a few ounces. He topped off the setup with an Exped pillow.

All in all, it's been an excellent experience for him, and he's beaming with the pride of having earned all this himself. We'll be taking a test trip in a week or two. The true test will be if he wakes up with the mattress still under him or if it hasn't been stolen by me :)

He's got a good start on savings for a sleeping bag, and working on new product ideas to raise the rest of the money needed - I think he's leaning towards self-tensioning guylines. Once he has that sleeping bag, he'll be all set for his cross over to Boy Scouts! He may even open a website to support ongoing adventuring he has in mind such as rock climbing, and eventually college.

Thanks again!
Kier & Mickey

I wish I did something like this when I was little!

Let him know that becoming an Eagle is worth it! So is Order of the Arrow!

Also, be careful if he gets into rock climbing, it will wreak havoc on the wallet! It's worth it though!

If I am not mistaken, wasn't Anti-Gravity Gear started for similar reasons as this?

Edited by climberslacker on 04/06/2012 22:59:55 MDT.

Just wanted to say thanks to Mickey for the awesome cozy, which I intend to debut this weekend on the trail. Congrats on making the money for the new pad, and good luck with your future product ideas! :)

And thanks to Kier for the Gram Weenie Pro I bought as well, I've been trying it out to see if it'll work for me. Might be too small to boil water for two people, but at the very least it'll make a great backup. My first alchy stove, so it's very exciting, hehe.

Cheers guys!

Thanks Derek! Glad everything is working out for you! Happy adventuring!

Kier & Mickey

Love the cozy so much, time to order one for the wife.

Are they still available?

PM me with the cost and PayPal e-mail address and I'll send payment.

Thanks!

Hi Brent!
They are still available! PM coming in a sec.

Thanks!
Kier & Mickey